Electric switch with coil spring contact



Nov. 29, 1966 H. M ROSKEY 3,

ELECTRIC SWITCH WITH COIL SPRING CONTACT Filed Sept. 20, 1965 "I K/l/l/l/II/l/I/(l/A ZZZ/Z Z4 9 22 1190174/0 Mleoskey,

INVENTOR. WHA NN 6 Ma MAN/6A L //orne s for A b'mq/ United States Patent f 3,288,948 ELECTRHC SWITCH WITH COIL SPRING CONTACT Leonard H. McRoskey, Los Angeles, Caliltl, assignor to Republic Tool 81 Manufacturing Corp., a corporation of California Filed Sept. 20, 1965, Ser. No. 488,431 6 Claims. (Cl. 200--6) The present invention relates generally to electric circuit controlling mechanisms, and is more particularly concerned with improvements in an electric switch which is especially suited for the control of motor and other electric circuits in connection with toy devices.

Heretof-ore, in the case of switch mechanisms of the type utilized for the control of motor energizing circuits and other circuits as embodied particularly in various toy devices, the trend has in the main been to construct the switches of small size and simple construction in order to reduce their cost. As a result of such efforts, the switches have become unreliable, due to failure of parts, failure to function properly as well as for other causes which have in general made the currently available switches undesirable.

With the foregoing in mind, the present invention has for one object a switch of improved construction requiring a minimum of parts and assembly operations, which is susceptible of a long operating life, which will be free of failures, and which may be quickly assembled and connected with the circuit conductors of a control circuit without the use of tools.

A further object is to provide in switches of the herein described character, unique contact members in the form of one or more coiled springs, advantage being taken of the spring coils to provide the mounting for the contact, connections for circuit conductors, and a contact portion which is of flexible character.

A still further object is to provide switch contacts embodying a coiled spring in which the coils operate to effect self cleaning of the contacts.

Another object is to provide in such switches, a contact embodying the use of a coiled spring which serves to provide through its construction, and flexibility a frictional contact pressure.

It is also an object to utilize a contact having the structure of a coiled spring, in which the individual coils will serve as locking or dwell means for retaining an associated slide contact in its circuit closed position against inadvertent displacement. 1

Further objects of the invention will be brought out in the following part of the specification, wherein detailed description is for the purpose of fully disclosing the invention without placing limitations thereon.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only:

FIG. 1 is an enlarged elevational view, partly in section, of an electric switch embodying the features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the same, showing the switch contacts in opened position;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan view, showing the contacts in closed position; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary detail view showing a modified construction for the movable contact of the switch.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, for illustrative purposes, the switch of the present invention is disclosed in FIG. 1 as being incorporated in connection with a wall forming member which may constitute a side wall, partition or the like of a compartment or container having a bottom closure wall 11. While the switch parts are shown as being thus associated, it is within the broad concepts of the pres-ent invention to utilize other 3,288,948 Patented Nov. 29, 1966 ICE As shown in the disclosed embodiment, the wall 10 is provided with integrally formed spaced apart guide rails 12 and 13 which project from the adjacent surface of the wall 10 and provide confronting channels 14 and 15 which are utilized for removably supporting and positioning the cooperatively associated switching instrumentalities in a manner which will now be explained.

A movable switch body, as indicated by the numeral 16, is provided, this body comprising an elongate member which is constructed of asuitable plastic or other suitable material preferably having insulating properties and of fiat uniform thickness. One end of the member 17 is enlarged to form a head portion 18 of generally circular perimeter, and of a size to extend into the channels 14 and 15 on its opposite side edges. The member 17 is of less thickness than the width of the channels, and in order to center the member in the channels, the head portion may be provided with an overlying semicircular disc 19 on its opposite sides to serve as a spacer.

The opposite end of the member 17 is extended beyond the wall member 10 and tapered to provide a handle portion 20 by means of which the member 17 may be rocked or swung about its head portion 18 for manipulating the switch contacts into and out of engagement.

A movable contact 21 is carried by the member 17, and comprises in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 a

tubular sleeve of conducting material such as copper,

aluminum and the like which is supported upon a projecting portion or finger 22 that is integrally formed on the movable switch body. As best shown in FIG. 2 the sleeve is provided with opposite sides which converge to provide in effect a knife edge 23 to facilitate movement of the movable contact 21 into engagement with an operably associated contact as generally indicated at 24. In utilizing a contact sleeve structure as just described, a circuit conductor such as the conductor 25 may be connected to the contact by leading an end portion of the conductor from one side of the member 17 to the other through an opening 26 which will anchor the conductor and permit the insertion of an end of the conductor from which the insulation has been stripped, as indicated at 27 between the contact sleeve and the projecting portion 22.

The contact 24 is in the form of a relatively tightly coiled spring formed of electrically conducting spring wire. As thus constructed, the contact may be mounted upon one of the guide rails or other projection simply by spreading adjacent intermediate coil turns and pushing the coil spring over the edge of the projection or rail portion, in the manner shown in FIG. 1. As thus mounted, the adjacent coil turns frictionally grip the support and retain in the contact in a mounted position with end portions extending on opposite sides thereof.

With a right-hand wound spring the inclination of the gripping coils act to support the spring with its axis as such an angle, with respect to the plane of movement of the movable contact, as to desirably assure proper closing of the contacts. The outermost end of the contact provides means by which a conductor 28 may have its stripped end 29 connected to the contact simply by inserting this stripped end between adjacent coil turns in the manner shown in FIG. 1.

The opposite end of the contact member is shown as being tapered as indicated at 30 by reducing the diameter of the coil turns in a direction towards the adjacent end of the contact member. By providing a tapered end, the movement of the contacts into closed position will be further facilitated.

Referring to FIG. 2, it will be observed that the tapered portion of the contact 24 is in the path of movement of the knife edge 23 of the movable contact, and that as the contacts are closed the knife edge will ride up on the tapered end 30 of the contcat 24 and in so doing may deflect both the member 17 and the end portion of the spring as indicated in FIG. 3. Pressure frictional engagement is thus formed between the contacts so as to establish a good current flow connection. It will also be appreciated that the spring coils at this end of the contact will have an inherent cleaning effect due to their relative movement during opening and closing of the switch contacts. Moreover, there is a desirable tendency of the coils of the contact 24 to form a locking engagement with the movable contact which will tend to hold the movable contact in its closed position.

Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown a modified arrangement for the movable contact which differs with that previously described in that instead of utilizing a sleeve for the contact 21, the contact as indicated at 21 in this case embodies a coiled spring which functions in the same manner as the previously explained contact. In this arrangement, it will be observed that the coiled springs as used in the moving contact and contact 24 will have their axes disposed at an angle, and the previously explained advantages for the contact 24, will also be present in the contact 21. Thus, the conductor 25 may have its bared end 27 anchored in the contact 21 by inserting it between the coil turns of the contact. Moreover, the contact 21' will also be deflected in the closed position of the contacts.

From the foregoing description and drawings, it Will be clearly evident that the delineated objects of the invention will be accomplished.

Various modification may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention, and, hence, I do not wish to be restricted to the specific form shown or uses mentioned, except to the extent indicated in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An electric switch, comprising:

(a) a support member;

(b) a coiled spring grippingly engaging an edge of said support member between adjacent of its coils, and having means for attaching a conductor connection therewith, and coils at one of its ends providing a laterally defiectable contact; and

(c) a manually movable member having a contact movable generally in the direction of the coiled spring axis and being engageable and disengageable by the movements of said member with the coils at said one end of the spring and in the engageable position being frictionally retained by the force and coils of the deflected spring.

2. An electric switch according to claim 3 wherein said means for attaching a conductor connection therewith comprises coils of said spring for gripping a conductor connected therewith.

3. An electric switch according to claim 1, wherein said contact of the movable member comprises a coiled spring.

4 4. An electric switch according to claim 3 in which the coiled springs have their axes in angular relation to each other.

5. An electric switch, comprising:

(a) a wall structure having a projection extending from one surface thereof;

(b) a member supported at one end for swinging movement along said one surface of the wall structure, and having an opposite end extending portion providing an actuating handle;

(c) a coiled spring having adjacent of its coils grippingly engaging said projection to position the spring with its axis extending generally along said wall structure and with a free end portion forming a deflectable contact extending toward said member; and

(d) a contact carried by said member, said contact being movable generally along said one surface of the wall structure in the direction of the spring axis and being engageable and disengageable with respect to the spring coils at said free end portion of the spring in response to swinging movements of said member in opposite directions and in the engageable position being frictionally retained by the force and coils of the deflected coiled spring.

6. An electric switch, comprising:

(a) a support structure including a wall with parallel laterally spaced means forming confronting channels on a surface of the wall;

(b) a substantially flat member of insulating material having an enlarged one end with opposite edge margins extending into said channels and guidingly supporting the member for rocking movement, said member having its other end and extending beyond the support structure to provide a handle portion;

(c) a first coiled spring mounted on the support structure and positioned with one end projecting beyond one of said channels adjacent said wall to form a contact extending toward said member; and

(d) a second coiled spring contact carried by said member and positioned with its axis extending generally in the direction of said handle portion, said contact being engageable and disengageable with respect to the said one end of said first coiled spring in response to swinging movements of said handle portion in opposite directions and in the engagebale position being frictionally retained by the force and coils of the deflected first coiled spring.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,666,822 1/1954 Pelletier et al. 200--166 X 2,816,181 12/1957 Mann et a1 200166 X 2,881,293 4/1959 Erickson 200166 3,193,607 7/1965 Anderson 200159 X ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, Primary Examiner.

J. R. SCOTT, Assistant Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,288,948 November 29, 1966 Leonard H. McRoskey It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 2, line 54, strike out "in"; line 58, for "as" read at column 3, line 33, for "modification" read modifications column 3, line 53, for the claim reference numeral "3" read 1 Signed and sealed this 19th day of September 1967.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER Attesting Officer EDWARD J. BRENNE' Commissioner of Patent! 

1. AN ELECTRIC SWITCH, COMPRISING: (A) A SUPPORT MEMBER; (B) A COILED SPRING GRIPPINGLY ENGAGING AN EDGE OF SAID SUPPORT MEMBER BETWEEN ADJACENT OF ITS COILS, AND HAVING MEANS FOR ATTACHING A CONDUCTOR CONNECTION THEREWITH, AND COILS AT ONE OF ITS ENDS PROVIDING A LATERALLY DEFLECTABLE CONTACT; AND (C) A MANUALLY MOVABLE MEMBER HAVING A CONTACT MOVABLE GENERALLY IN THE DIRECTION OF THE COILED SPRING AXIS AND BEING ENGAGEABLE AND DISENGAGEABLE BY THE MOVEMENTS OF SAID MEMBER WITH THE COILS AT SAID ONE END OF THE SPRING AND IN THE ENGAGEABLE POSITION BEING FRICTIONALLY RETAINED BY THE FORCE AND COILS OF THE DEFLECTED SPRING. 